Fusee holder



April 25, 1961 o. BURNS 2,981,510

FUSEE HOLDER I Filed Oct. 20, 1959 Burns IN VEN TOR.

Oliver nited States This invention relates to an improved holder for fusees or flares. The holder is useful in holding fusees with the burning end held away from the holder, and is designed for use by motorists, truck line operators, railroaders and the like wherein emergency conditions require stopping of a vehicle and signaling to others that such emergency conditions exist.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved holder for fusees that is adapted to hold the fusee in an upright but inclined position, whereby the flare is in position effectively to light surroundings and any burning material falling from the flare falls free of the holder thus not to coat or dirty it.

Another general object is to provide an improved holder for flares that is easy to clean after periods of use and before storing it.

Another object is to provide an improved holder for fusees or flares that is suitable for mounting a flare in a stable manner on the side of a car or vehicle with the flare inclined upwardly and outwardly in a proper position to warn approaching traflic.

As contemplated by this invention, the holder comprises a V-shaped base having legs joined at one set of ends that diverge from each other progressing toward their opposite set of ends. Secured to the base is a socket portion that joins with the base at the location where the legs of the base join. This socket contains a bore for seating the base of a flare. The bore inclines upwardly and outwardly beyond the joined ends of the legs for the base, and when a flare is seated in the holder the flare inclines outwardly over the joined ends. The base has substantial mass, and the mass of the socket portion is not substantially greater than the mass of the base. Thus the holder is entirely stable even though the flare inclines outwardly over the joined ends as mentioned.

The flare holder also includes novel construction whereby the holder may be placed in a bracket on the side of a vehicle and held in a stable position with the burning end of a flare disposed above the holder and to one side thereof. A further feature is the provision of a novel socket portion for seating a flare whereby material collecting in the socket may be easily cleaned therefrom.

Advantages and features of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flare holder constructed according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder in Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 illustrates the flare holder as it may be used secured to the side of a vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, indicates the holder generally. Holder 10 comprises a base portion 12 and a socket portion 14 integral with base portion 12.

Base portion 12 is V-shaped in plan as best seen in Fig. 1. Thus it comprises a pair of leg portions 16, 18 that join at one set of ends, indicated at 20, and that diverge of reduced diameter, indicated at 28c.

from each other progressing toward their opposite ends, indicated at 22. Leg portions 16, 18 have flat bottoms located in a common plane that define a substantially flat bottom for base portion 12. The base portion has substantial mass, in order that it may hold a fusee or flare firmly without chance of it toppling over under a gust of wind. Thus ordinarily the base portion is made of iron or similar heavy metal.

Socket portion 14, which may be integral with base portion 12, has a bottom end 24 joined with base portion 12 adjacent the joined set of ends .20 of the legs of the base. Socket portion 24 has a mass not substantially greater than the mass of the base, and preferably somewhat less than the mass of the base. Extending downwarly from the top 26 of the socket portion is an elongated bore, indicated generally at 28. This extends entirely through the socket portion and through base portion 12. The bore has an enlarged end 28a adapted to fit about the base of a fusee, such as the one indicated at 30 in Fig. 3. Intermediate the ends of the bore is a tapered portion 2812 (see Fig. 2) which joins with a bore The tapered portion 28b constitutes a step that rests the base of a fusee placed in the socket portion. Bore 28 extends entirely through the socket and base to enable easy cleaning of the holder after use. Further, the bore permits draining of liquid material from the socket portion.

Bore 28 projects in a line that inclines outwardly and beyond set of ends 20 progressing upwardly from the base. Thus any fusee held in the holder has its upper end disposed over the ground and not over the holder. This enables burning material to drop from the fusee clear of the holder. Since the fusee is held out over an end of the holder, it is the mass of the legs that prevents the fusee from falling over, when the holder is horizontal as shown in Fig. 2.

Socket portion 14 has a side 31 that faces the diverging ends of legs 16, 18. Side 31 occupies a plane that incline-s outwardly over the joined set of ends 20 of the legs. it should also be noted that the plane of side 31 is inclined at an obtuse angle relative to legs 16, 18 in a direction extending toward the diverging ends 22, and that the angle is less than the obtuse angle defined by the line of bore 23 with these legs. This is important when the holder is set on the side of a vehicle, such as is illustrated in Fig. 3.

Considering the position of the fusee and holder in Fig. 3, 32 indicates a rail such as is found along the side of a box car. This rail is spaced outwardly a slight distance from the body 34 of the car. To place the fusee holder on the side of the car, legs 16, 18 are slipped behind rail 32 and in front of body 34. Side 31 engages the upper edge of the rail and keeps the holder upright. Due to the angle of side 31, when so positioned, a fusee mounted in the holder will incline upwardly progressing outwardly from the side of the car, and thus the fusee is held by gravity from falling from the holder. A socket portion of relatively light mass is important in this position of the holder, as thus the holder is prevented from being top heavy.

From the above it should be apparent that the holder has advantages over those known in the art. The holder is easily cleaned by reason of bore section 28 extending entirely through the holder. The mass of the legs contributes to the holder being held firmly in place, whether it be in the horizontal position of Figs. 1 and 2 or the vertical position of Fig. 3. In either position, the fusee has its upper end inclined at an angle wherein drippings from the fusee fall clear of the holder. When placed in the vertical position of Fig. 3 the angle of inclination is suflicient to keep the fusee in place without its falling from the holder.

having a mass not substantially greater than the mass of said base joined at one end to said base and extending upwardly from the base where the leg portions join, said socket portion having a bore seating the base of the flare that extends inwardly from the end opposite said one end entirely through the socket portion thence through the base, said bore having a step intermediate its ends providing a rest for the bottom of the flare, said bore projecting in a line progressing outwardly from said base that inclines over and beyond said one set of ends of the leg portions.

2. A holder for supporting the base of the flare, said holder comprising a V-shaped base of substantial mass having a pair of leg portions defining substantially a flat bottom for the base and joined with each other at one set of ends, said leg portions diverging from each other progressing toward their opposite set of ends, and an upright socket portion joined at one end to said base and extending upwardly from the base where the leg portions join having a mass not substantially greater than the mass of the base, said socket portion having a bore for seating the base of the flare that projects in a line progressing outwardly from said base that inclines over and beyond said one set of ends of the leg portions, said socket portion having a flat side that faces said opposite ends of the leg portions that lies in a plane inclining over and beyond said one set of ends of the leg portions, the plane of said side and the line of said bore defining obtuse angles with the leg portions of the base in a direction extending toward said opposite set of ends, the angle defined by the side being less than the angle defined by the line of said bore, whereby when the side is resting substantially horizontally on a support with the leg portions of the holder extending downwardly a flare seated in said bore inclines upwardly.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said bore extends entirely through the socket and the base and wherein the bore is provided with a step portion intermediate its ends that provides a rest for the bottom of the flare.

4. A holder for supporting the base of a flare, said holder comprising a V-shaped base of substantial mass having a pair of leg portions defining substantially a flat bottom for the base and joined with each other at one set of ends, said leg portions diverging from each other progressing toward their opposite set of ends, and a socket portion joined at one end to said base and extending up wardly from the base where the leg portions join having a mass not substantially greater than the mass of the base, said socket portion having a bore for seating the base of a flare that projects in a line progressing outwardly from said base that inclines over and beyond said one set of ends of the leg portions, said socket portion having a side that faces said opposite ends of the leg portions, the line in which said bore extends defining an acute angle with respect to said side of the socket portion, whereby when the side is resting substantially horizontally on a support with the leg portions of the holder extending downwardly a flare seated in said bore inclines upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

